Bay County approves Beaver Road wetland mitigation project; staff say conservation easement will enable restoration

Bay County commissioners on June 15 approved resolution 2026-131 to authorize a wetland mitigation project on a parcel near Beaver and Euclid roads.

A county staff member identified in the meeting as Mike said the parcel was purchased with conservation funds and already carries encumbrances to preserve it for wildlife. He told commissioners the next phase would place a conservation easement on roughly less than 10 acres of a roughly 17-acre parcel to enable additional restoration work in partnership with a private property owner and a conservation partner referred to in the meeting as "Eagle." Mike said the project would improve habitat without much or any immediate cost to Bay County and could expand recreation opportunities in the longer term.

Commissioners asked for location details and whether the project would preclude other uses, including a possible dog park nearby; Mike said the easement area is a portion of the parcel and that other parts of the property could be available for future uses compatible with the conservation purpose. "It's a unique opportunity to do something with a property that we purchased with conservation money," Mike said, describing the proposed restoration and noting the county would work with forest sustainability staff on implementation.

After brief questions and expressions of support, the board moved the resolution and carried the motion. The meeting record does not include a detailed cost breakdown, a named conservation partner beyond the meeting reference to "Eagle," nor an explicit timeline or funding commitments for specific restoration tasks.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff were authorized to move forward with the next phase, which the speaker described as pursuing the easement and planning the restoration work in coordination with funding partners and forest sustainability staff.